MANY road users have drawn my attention to a serious and growing concern about road safety, with traffic outriders and emergency vehicles often moving on our roads in ways that put many drivers at unnecessary risk.
Most of us have experienced this. Sirens and flashing lights come suddenly from behind, with little warning. Drivers have to brake hard, swerve into crowded lanes or slow down fast – often with barely enough time to react safely.
For many motorists, this is not just inconvenient; it is genuinely frightening. Some feel nervous every time they hear a siren.
Worse, there have been reports of accidents caused directly by these sudden, unannounced moves.
It is even more worrying when sirens and beacon lights are treated not as urgent warnings but as a free pass.
Some vehicles seem to think that with a siren, speed limits do not matter and red lights need not be obeyed. They expect every other road user to get out of the way instantly, without thinking about road conditions or other people’s safety. These are safety tools, not symbols of status.
This is why we need a full review of the rules. We need systems that give drivers enough time to move over safely, instead of demanding instant, panic-driven reactions. Where escorts are needed, traffic police should be at junctions to guide traffic and keep things safe.
We also need clear rules on who actually gets an escort. Most people agree that only the prime minister, royalty and official dignitaries should have them as a normal practice. For others – including ministers and senior officials – such arrangements should be rare exceptions, not something they expect as a right.
No one is above the law. A siren does not cancel traffic rules and a flashing light does not make safety less important.
Every road user, no matter their rank, deserves to travel safely – and every road user must drive with care.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
Kuala Lumpur
